Medical Tyranny in Tennessee: Forced Antibiotics on Newborns

Health Impact News Editor Comments

The Times Free Press in Chattanooga, Tennessee reported last week that the Erlanger Health System was going to start forcing all newborn babies in their health facilities to receive an antibiotic ointment applied to their eyes at birth, whether their parents want it or not. Even if nurses and midwives attending the birth do not approve of the antibiotic ointment, the hospital allegedly stated that they will apply it anyway, using security guards at the patient’s bedside if need be.

The hospital system can do this because of a 100 year old law in Tennessee:

Erythromycin protects babies’ eyes against infections they can acquire in the birth canal if the mother has a sexually transmitted disease such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. Such infections can lead to blindness, and since 1915 Tennessee law has required protective ointment be applied within an hour after birth — no exceptions. Georgia requires the same thing. (Source.)

Kate Belz of the Times Free Press reported why some parents want to refuse the treatment:

However, a few parents are refusing the ointment. Some insist they don’t have STDs, and so the ointment is unnecessary and unnatural. Others say the procedure interferes with critical bonding during their child’s first moments of life.

Where Kate Belz fails in her reporting, however, is giving the doctors’ point of view with no apparent fact checking:

Doctors say the ointment is effective and without side effects.

No side effects? Is there any prescription drug in the market today with “no side effects”? Are doctors simply saying this because they have never seen babies go blind due to antibiotic ointment applications? What about secondary side effects, and the effect on the newborn’s natural immune system?

A simple search to find the product’s package insert, which is required by the FDA for all approved drugs, reveals this side effect:

The use of antimicrobial agents may be associated with the overgrowth of nonsusceptible organisms including fungi; in such a case, antibiotic administration should be stopped and appropriate measures taken. (Source: ILOTYCIN package insert on National Institute of Health government website.)

Topical antibiotics kill all the bacteria on the skin when applied, whether good or bad, and it is common knowledge that this can lead to fungal skin infections. The package insert also seems to suggest there are no long-term studies done on the topical form of Erythromycin, only the oral form:

Two year oral studies conducted in rats with erythromycin did not provide evidence of tumorigenicity. Mutagenicity studies have not been conducted. No evidence of impaired fertility that appeared related to erythromycin was reported in animal studies. (Source.)

Medical Tyranny Needs to be Opposed

Forced medical treatments on children violate basic civil liberties and need to be opposed. The Times Free Press quoted both a nurse and midwife who are opposed to the use of force for medical procedures:

But one Erlanger East labor and delivery nurse, who asked not to be named because she does not have authorization to speak on the matter, said for her and her co-workers, the policy “goes against everything” she has been taught about patients’ right to refuse treatment.

“You’re darned if you do, darned if you don’t,” she said. “If we don’t, then we could supposedly get sued. If we go through with it, then I’m afraid someone could say it’s battery because we’re providing care against their wishes. That’s my biggest fear.”

She said she would not go against parents’ wishes, even if a security guard was involved.

Local midwife Amy Miller Anderson, who has worked in labor and delivery for more than 20 years including her time as a nurse, said the policy has “deeply troubling” implications.

She does not discourage the use of erythromycin ointment, and always spells out what the law requires.

“What I don’t agree with is the use of force. … It’s entirely inappropriate,” said Anderson.

Read the full article here.

Baby designed by God
by Dr. Amanda Hess & Dr. Jeremy Hess

FREE Shipping Available!

More Info

Published on March 30, 2015

12 Comments

Meg July 31, 2015 at 12:22 pm - Reply

A few drops of breast milk in the eye typically combat infection

J. Rollins April 1, 2015 at 4:22 am - Reply

In the eyes of government which uses hammer like force, all citizens that question the system appear to be nails. Power hunger psychopathic control freaks looking to make a fast buck at the expense of the innocent public, seek out positions of government authority for the prestige of victimizing others while reaping self enrichment. All government authority to use force against the public needs to be eliminated ASAP!!! Only in cases of crime perpetrated by thievery, bodily injury, property damage, or reckless endangerment, does the state get it’s permission from the governed to enforce laws to protect the individual rights of the victims. Anything outside of that is a violation of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. If the government over steps it’s bounds every citizen should have the right to seek a redress of grievances at the expense of the government. Politicians that push these unjust actions should be personally liable for their actions if found guilty. These should include financial restitution, prison sentences, and removal from office for any and all offenses regardless of good intentions. Government must be kept on a very short leash, restrained by several checks & balances, as it’s only legitimate authority is for public service and protection of individual rights. Any business, group, or individual that violates the health and safety of the public through products, services, or environmental hazards is also subject to financial restitution, prison sentences, and banded from conducting any business after the terms of punishment (derived by a jury of citizens) have been satisfied. Anything less than these operating principles and the  citizens are not living in a truly free society of just laws and representation.

Celtic April 1, 2015 at 1:48 am - Reply

There is a lot wrong about hospitals in the US. I’m from central Europe – if it wasn’t so sad, it’d be funny what the “yanks” are doing. In the US giving birth is seen as a sickness one could think. There is absolutely no need for any medication or m.d. being around all the time in case all goes well. People in the US seem to have forgotten that giving birth is something as natural as growing up. Amazing what the fear of being sued combined with the pathological fear of germs is doing to mothers and newborns in the US. No wonder the US ranks below Afghanistan in newborn death statistics… Compared to other industrial nations the US has a very, very poor care system for mothers and newborns. The reason for this is that in the US giving birth is nothing natural anymore, but everything is bombarded with drugs, unneccesary C-sections etc. Pretty sad really.

JJ April 1, 2015 at 1:39 am - Reply

Check out colloidal silver, one of Mother Nature’s more perfect antibiotics…..

nwqfk March 31, 2015 at 10:42 pm - Reply

My child @ 6 and 1/2 has chronic styes and has recently had a severe eyelid infection.

My theory, which I have doctors concurring with my hypothesis as to why may daughter is very susceptible to eyelid infections / styes, is that most people have a protective barrier from bacteria / virus … around the hair follicle inside the eyelid.  My hypothesis is that in my daughter’s case this protective barrier has been compromised, where any number of crud from the outside, vectors in from the eyelash and infects my child’s eyelid.  

This is serious because if not treated (in the case of a full blown infection) the eyelid infection could spread to the back of the eye socket.  A severe eyelid infection has only happened once to my daughter but in that case I was ‘forced’ to give my daughter an oral antibiotic.  I don’t want to have to give my daughter anymore antibiotics forever, if possible so, I have to keep up with over the top hygiene on her eyelids.

In conclusion, it is entirely possible that when we listened to the ‘doctor’ and, put that antibiotics in my daughters eyes when she was a new born, that the protective barrier we all have, where our eyelashes in her case, was not yet developed and the ointment broke down that barrier of protection before it was fully developed.  

No, I don’t know for sure but it’s very plausible the ointment my have been the culprit in my daughters case.  A ‘real’ study should be conducted to see if styes and eyelid infections have increased since this ointment treatment was introduced.

White Eagle March 31, 2015 at 6:41 pm - Reply

Silver tinticure was fine, and natural.  Antibiotics are not, and have the potential for an allergic reaction.  Newborns are better having mothers milk for their immunity rather than something dropped in their eyes.

nanci March 31, 2015 at 12:02 pm - Reply

They use to use silver with no side effects.

Abe March 31, 2015 at 11:19 am - Reply

Dose anyone remember Hexachlorophene? Same reasoning.

Erwin Alber March 31, 2015 at 9:26 am - Reply

Yet one more reason among many others to opt for a home birth! 

It is also vitally important to state in one’s birth plan that the hepatitis B vaccine given to new babies is not wanted and that the cord is not to be clamped or cut until the placenta has been delivered.  

http://www.vaclib.org/exemptions.htm 

Also check out this article:  

Commonly asked questions about childbirth answered 
http://www.vaccinationinformationnetwork.com/commonly-asked-questions-about-childbirth-answered/

chuck14od March 31, 2015 at 9:20 am - Reply

I had 5 children back in the 1980’s and this was the acceptable treatment for newborns in New Jersey, not saying it was right, but back then assumed that ‘doctors knew best’, have since wised up!

Suzanne March 31, 2015 at 7:22 am - Reply

For heaven’s sake, why not test the mother for sexually transmitted diseases in the 7th month or something and educate her partner about the importance of not having any other partners before the birth, testing him/her as well?

cui bono March 30, 2015 at 10:32 pm - Reply

Childbirth is not a “problem” that requires medical intervention in most instances. I would suggest families and communities support women so they can confidently stop asking for medical intervention that is unnecessary (birthing in a hospital) and provides an opportunity for a host of interventions which may or may not be economically driven. Also hospitals are FILTHY (98% of US hospital staff are colonized with MRSA in their nares) and expose both mother and babe to a host of resistant organisms. That said however, parents should be free to refuse an intervention if they feel it is unwise for their child or themselves to suggest otherwise is a breech of professional (and hopefully personal) ethics.